Schuyler County's Jordon Wheeler named 2012 Daily Express Baseball Player of the Year

Saturday

Jun 2, 2012 at 12:01 AMJul 25, 2012 at 2:56 PM

Bud Schrader

LANCASTER, Mo. - Schuyler County pitcher Jordon Wheeler credited a handshake with a coach at a baseball camp while he was in middle school with giving him the drive to succeed in the sport.

“I was at the Indian Hills Baseball Camp,” he said, “and after one of the sessions, Rick Matthews [former Indian Hills Community College Baseball Coach and Colorado Rockies bullpen coach] shook my hand and told me I had showed enormous potential as a pitcher.”

Wheeler worked hard on his game from that point on and his efforts earned him the 2012 Daily Express Baseball Player of the Year honor. He was the No. 1 pitcher on a Rams team that won back-to-back district titles and won their first state playoff game in school history this season.

Wheeler finished with a 8-1 record with a 1.57 ERA and 78 strikeouts in 55 innings pitched. He was also a threat at the plate, hitting .458 with three home runs and 22 RBIs. Schuyler County coach Steve Stock said Wheeler’s success stems from his work ethic.

“[Jordon] is passionate about the game,” he said. “He’s not somebody who spends two months playing and is done with it. He plays all summer. I think he wants to be a coach.”

Wheeler said the Rams (17-3 record) accomplished the goals they set prior to the season.

“The loss to Elsberry last season [9-0 in state playoffs] left a bitter taste in our mouths,” he said. “We had seven starters returning and our goal at the start of the season was the reach the state playoffs again. We won a game when we got there and lost to South Callaway, who was the state champion. I guess it turned out pretty good.”

Wheeler, Tad Anderson and Daniel Howe were three seniors who provided a lot of leadership for Schuyler. Wheeler said the seniors formed a bond that goes way back.

“We’ve played baseball together ever since we were 5 years old,” he said. “We’re willing to work playing baseball.”

Wheeler said his biggest improvement on the mound was his control.

“I got a lot better in everything,” he said. “I was not only able to throw my fastball for strikes, but my secondary pitches for strikes as well.”

Stock said Wheeler evolved into a pitcher rather than a thrower in his four years at Schuyler.

“He leaned how to pitch,” Stock said. “He could throw inside and outside and he learned how to change speeds. He know how to pitch in certain situations. He wasn’t just a pitcher who threw the ball to the plate and hoped he hit a spot. He knew what he was doing out there and that will help him in college.”

Wheeler will continue his career at NAIA Culver-Stockton.

“I talked to the coaches at Culver and they said that I will get some innings in,” he said. “I know I need to be ready to work in the fall. I need to get to the weight room and get some more velocity on my fastball.”

He added that he was impressed with Wildcat baseball coach Kevin Kocks.

“Coach Kocks wants to win a national championship,” he said. “I do to, winning in high school makes you hungry for more wins. College hitters are pretty good though, it’s going to take a lot of work.”